Editorial
Karen Graham
On this Thanksgiving weekend we should all be particularly thankful for where we live. No matter what the outcome of the pending election, we live in a spectacular country that is the envy of the many, and we donèt need reminders from the media for confirmation.
While we give thanks, we might also wonder about our responsibilities to help others. Many in our community are eager to offer assistance to those suffering in and around Syria, but the task seems overwhelming, and so is the number of ways to offer help. At the suggestion of a reader, I approached Ben Liston, a dedicated young immigration lawyer from our community who is currently practising in Toronto, for his suggestions on how to direct our efforts in ways that would be most beneficial. He had no shortage of suggestions, many of which are outlined below.
For those who are interested in sponsoring refugees, helpful information is available from the Refugee Sponsorship Support Program (http://refugeessp.ca/sponsorship/ ). In addition to offering Èhow toÈ information, it also has a list of lawyers who can offer pro bono support for the application process. While there are no Peterborough participants currently on the list, this could change as the movement is growing. Another helpful website with sponsorship information is Lifeline Syria (http://lifelinesyria.ca/ ), whose primary focus is to encourage sponsorship from the GTA but also provides instructions for other communities who may wish to set up something similar.
To offer immediate financial assistance, there are many charitable organizations active in the area, and the federal government has pledged to match all donations to Canadian charities aiding Syrian refugees up to $100 million, until December 31, 2015. Reputable and well-known organizations on the scene include the Canadian Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders and the UN Refugee Agency. There are many others, but to confirm that the funds donated will be put to good use, you could refer to Charity Intelligence Canada, which explains which agencies best allocate their funds, and have a specific page explaining which organizations are assisting Syrians right now. See http://www.charityintelligence.ca/syrian-refugees for details.
Of course, helping others does not always require dramatic gestures, large donations, or looking abroad for charitable opportunities. As the saying goes, Charity starts at home, and there are many worthwhile organizations who would welcome your gifts of time or money that donèt need mention in these pages- we know who they are, and we are grateful to them. In this season of thanks, let us express our gratitude in tangible ways that are worthy of us, one of the most fortunate societies in the world today.
